Originally scheduled for back in November, the launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida has been delayed for nearly two months. Will the secret contents ever make it off the ground?

Months of delay

Zuma was repeatedy delayed in mid-November because of testing issues. After inital timing setbacks so SpaceX could undertake “assurance work,” testing results for a different customer led to an indefinite halt.

SpaceX announced the delay on Twitter, writing: “Standing down on Zuma mission to take a closer look at data from recent fairing testing for another customer.”

Dress rehearsals

SpaceX has performed numerous tests on the Falcon 9 rocket set to launch Zuma. According to Spaceflightnow.com, the launch team filled the rocket with kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants as part of a countdown rehearsal on January 3.

Further dress rehearsals took place yesterday, fully fueling the rocket. After testing, the rocket sat ready and waited for lift-off. The expected launch time between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM Eastern Time came and went, and Zuma is still firmly on the ground.

A forecast sent to Newsweek by a branch of the U.S. Air Force now slates the launch for a time between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM ET on January 7. Thick clouds have a 30% chance of delaying the Zuma launch further, according to the report issued at 11:30 AM ET January 5.

Mysterious payload

We know even less about the contents of Zuma than when it will fly. The spacecraft’s secret payload is known to be something to do with the U.S. Government, but its contents are strictly under wraps.

Aerospace and defence company Northrup Grumman is involved in the project. Communications officer Lon Rains told Space.com: “The Zuma payload is a restricted payload…Northrop Grumman is proud to be part of the Zuma launch.”

Will the secretive spacecraft ever launch?

The Falcon Heavy rocket sits on its launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX/Public Domain